DAVID C. JOHNSON, DDS, MS

Meet Dr. Johnson

Dr. Johnson was born in Utah and lived in seven different states before moving to Colorado in 1978. He grew up hiking and fishing all over Colorado, Wyoming and parts of Utah and Idaho. He served a mission for his church in Chile for two years, where he became fluent in Spanish and learned a lot of life lessons. He earned his bachelors degree in Zoology at Brigham Young University while working as a home-care and hospice nurse. He attended dental school at the University of Colorado at Denver and graduated in 2001. He then attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA for his periodontal residency which he completed in 2004. Immediately following graduation, he moved to Fort Collins, CO to begin working at Associated in Periodontics. He had so many patients traveling down from Cheyenne that he quickly went to work to acquire a license in Wyoming in 2005 and has been commuting to Cheyenne at least 1 day a week since then.

He and his wife, Valerie met on a blind date in college and were married in 1995. They have 3 girls, Rachel, Erin & Calista and 1 boy, Nathan that keep them both busy with all of their activities. The whole family enjoys living in the West and escape the city life whenever possible. Dr. Johnson also enjoys watching and playing sports, fishing, hunting, hiking and reading.

Dr. Johnson is a member of the Larimer County Dental Society, the Colorado Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Rocky Mountain Society of Periodontology, and the American Academy of Periodontology.

Periodontal treatment is necessary when various conditions affect the health of your gums and the regions of your jawbone that hold your teeth in place. Retaining your teeth is directly dependent on proper periodontal care and maintenance. Healthy gums enhance the appearance of your teeth, like a frame around a beautiful painting. When your gums become unhealthy, they can either recede or become swollen and red.

Patients experience tooth loss for a number of reasons. Tooth loss can be the result of injury, decay, or gum disease (periodontal disease). Early detection of gum disease symptoms and treatment can help avoid loose teeth and tooth loss. David C. Johnson, DDS, MS, Jennifer R. Merritt, DDS or Trisha D. Hansen, DMD can address these issues and provide periodontal care for Fort Collins CO patients. It is important to replace missing teeth.

Gum recession occurs when there is a loss of the thick gum tissue that normally covers and protects the root. The root becomes exposed, and the remaining gum tissue is often thin and more susceptible to irritation or inflammation. The exposed root can be unsightly and make the tooth sensitive to hot or cold. Additionally, the exposed root is softer than the enamel of the tooth, which makes it more susceptible to decay or cavities.

Your teeth affect your whole body. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech and eating choices. As you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they will wear out prematurely, or be damaged or lost. You may also experience headaches and/or jaw pain. Who would want their appearance and health to deteriorate? That’s the natural consequence of missing teeth – the jaw literally melts away.

If you lose one or more teeth due to periodontal disease, or another cause, there is hope. Dental implants are changing the way people live! They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved.